Apple's industry-leading iMac desktop received a major update on Tuesday, with newest all-in-one design featuring a form-factor with edges that are just 5 millimeters thin and a new high-res display laminated to the computer's glass cover.

The front display has edge-to-edge glass and is 45 percent thinner than the predecessor. The new iMac also lacks an optical drive and has re-engineered internal components.

"There's an entire computer in here," Apple marketing chief Phil Schiller joked. "It's hard to believe there's even just a display in here."

The new iMac is available in 21.5-inch and 27-inch models, both of which feature the full lamination design that makes pixels appear as though they are directly on the glass.

"With a stunning design, brilliant display and faster performance, we?ve made the world?s leading all-in-one desktop computer better in every way," Schiller said. "The all-new iMac is unbelievably thin, yet packs an incredible amount of performance and technology into our most innovative desktop."

Each display is individually calibrated on the assembly line with a spectroradiometer. The system also features a FaceTime HD camera, dual microphones, and a stereo sound system.

The new iMac packs high-performance technology into an aluminum and glass enclosure with up to 40 percent less volume than its predecessor and an edge that measures 5 millimeters thin. It also features a completely reengineered display that reduces reflection by 75 percent while maintaining brilliant color and contrast. In the new design, the cover glass is fully laminated to the LCD and an anti-reflective coating is applied using a high-precision plasma deposition process.

Powering the display is Nvidia's Kepler graphics, which offer up to 60 percent faster performance than previous models. As for memory, the iMac comes with 8GB of RAM standard with the ability to configure the machine with up to 32GB. Storage is taken care of by a standard 1TB HDD, which can be upgraded to to 1TB Fusion Drive in the high-end 21.5-inch model, or a 3TB HDD, 1TB or 3TB Fusion Drive, or 768GB SSD in the 27-inch version.

The Fusion Drive is a new storage option that combines speedy flash memory with the greater storage capacity offered by traditional hard drives. It joins 128 gigabytes of flash with a 1- or 3-terabyte hard drive for a single storage volume that intelligently manages files.

The iMac also has two Thunderbolt and four USB 3.0 ports, allowing for greater expandability.

The new design sheds up to 8 pounds over the previous generation. Even though it's smaller, Schiller called the internals a "serious computer," featuring Intel quad-core Ivy Bridge processors, up to 32 gigabytes of RAM, and Nvidia Kepler dedicated graphics.

Pricing & availability

The 21.5-inch iMac is available with a 2.7 GHz quad-core Intel Core i5 with Turbo Boost speeds up to 3.2 GHz and NVIDIA GeForce GT 640M for a suggested retail price of $1,299 (US); and with a 2.9 GHz quad-core Intel Core i5 with Turbo Boost speeds up to 3.6 GHz and NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M for a suggested retail price of $1,499 (US). The 21.5-inch iMac will be available in November through the Apple Online Store (www.apple.com), Apple?s retail stores and Apple Authorized Resellers.

The 27-inch iMac is available with a 2.9 GHz quad-core Intel Core i5 with Turbo Boost speeds up to 3.6 GHz and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660M for a suggested retail price of $1,799 (US); and with a 3.2 GHz quad-core Intel Core i5 with Turbo Boost speeds up to 3.6 GHz and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 675MX for a suggested retail price of $1,999 (US). The 27-inch iMac will be available in December through the Apple Online Store, Apple?s retail stores and Apple Authorized Resellers.

That's nice, but the total thickness doesn't appear to be noticeably thinner, measure it from the thickest point, like the way we should measure Android phones.

The back is clearly a lot more curved than the previous version. I also question the wisdom of the SD card in the back. That makes it a bit awkward to use, either turn the entire machine around or grope around for the slot. I really liked the side edge slot.Edited by JeffDM - 10/23/12 at 12:58pm

Indeed. That's my biggest question at this point: what, if anything, is upgradable? I'm hoping at least RAM is still upgradable.

I'm in the market for a new dev machine, and the Mac Pro just doesn't give enough bang for buck these days. However, I do find myself still upgrading RAM every year or so as Xcode's RAM usage gets higher all the time. It's much cheaper to buy just enough for now and upgrade later (when RAM prices come down) than buy more than enough now.

I don't see the point of removing the optical drive in a pure desktop machine...but I'll hand it to them, it's quite a beauty!

With more modern storage options, USB, Cloud storage, and streaming options like iTunes/Netflix etc... there's just no need for a clunky, optical drive that is yet another mechanical piece that can fail. Kudos for Apple to take the initiative like they did with the floppy drive and legacy ports.

I can count on one hand the number of times I've used the CD-Rom drive on my iMac. I don't know anyone that uses CD's anymore. It's an obsolete piece of tech. That's the reality.

Put that iMac in the stores!! I want to see one of these beauties in the store. Looks like its finally time to upgrade my 2009 iMac which is still in flawless condition and will definitely be sold at a good price to offset the new gal!

Indeed. That's my biggest question at this point: what, if anything, is upgradable? I'm hoping at least RAM is still upgradable.

I'm in the market for a new dev machine, and the Mac Pro just doesn't give enough bang for buck these days. However, I do find myself still upgrading RAM every year or so as Xcode's RAM usage gets higher all the time. It's much cheaper to buy just enough for now and upgrade later (when RAM prices come down) than buy more than enough now.

Go to Apple's website. 4 ram slots! User Upgradeable!

I'm guessing the display lifts out like the glass did, just as one part. Maybe hidden screws on the bottom. probably easier that the last gen.

Apple.com seems to indicate that you can get inside the 27in, but not the 21.5in.

It also seems to indicate that you can't get pure SSD storage in the 21.5in. WHY ARE YOU RUINING MY DREAMS APPLE? http://www.apple.com/imac/specs/ And it also seems to indicate that you either get 1tb ATA, 1tb fusion, 3tb ATA, 3tb fusion, or 768 flash. Do we have any mid range storage options. 256 ssd would be great. KKTHNX.

Also holy cow that's a thin desktop. The 27in model will probably look really odd with that thin a depth and that large a screen.

With more modern storage options, USB, Cloud storage, and streaming options like iTunes/Netflix etc... there's just no need for a clunky, optical drive that is yet another mechanical piece that can fail. Kudos for Apple to take the initiative like they did with the floppy drive and legacy ports.

I can count on one hand the number of times I've used the CD-Rom drive on my iMac. I don't know anyone that uses CD's anymore. It's an obsolete piece of tech. That's the reality.

Put that iMac in the stores!! I want to see one of these beauties in the store. Looks like its finally time to upgrade my 2009 iMac which is still in flawless condition and will definitely be sold at a good price to offset the new gal!

So what happens when you get (buy, given, etc.) a CD with music on it? Or want to give Grandma a DVD of the grandson's first step on video?

I agree, I use my optical drive infrequently, but it's hardly a superfluous appendage. It's not quite a the floppy drive...yet.

I wonder if some enterprising company will release some software to achieve this on an SSD and HDD that are self installed, kind of like RAID only different. Air Parrot solved the lack of Air Play for older Macs so I live in hope. Obviously Apple's will be better in every way but it would be nice to have something to play around with in a DIY set up.

From Apple ][ - to new Mac Pro I've owned them all.Long on AAPL so biased"Google doesn't sell you anything, Google just sells you!"

Apple.com seems to indicate that you can get inside the 27in, but not the 21.5in.

It also seems to indicate that you can't get pure SSD storage in the 21.5in. WHY ARE YOU RUINING MY DREAMS APPLE? http://www.apple.com/imac/specs/ And it also seems to indicate that you either get 1tb ATA, 1tb fusion, 3tb ATA, 3tb fusion, or 768 flash. Do we have any mid range storage options. 256 ssd would be great. KKTHNX.

Also holy cow that's a thin desktop. The 27in model will probably look really odd with that thin a depth and that large a screen.

It does seem to bulge out in the middle from some angles i glimpsed I suspect it is only that thin at the edges.

From Apple ][ - to new Mac Pro I've owned them all.Long on AAPL so biased"Google doesn't sell you anything, Google just sells you!"

Really? For a DESKTOP computer that I just spent $1200+ for? So I bought this beautiful all-in-one computer only to have to make it ugly by buying an external burner? Look, I get it. Apple has decided that the optical drive is obsolete. I understand eliminating it on a laptop, but not on a desktop. I'm not a fan of losing the FW ports either. Yes, yes, I can buy an adapter, but again, why? Apple declaring something obsolete doesn't necessarily make it so.

That's all I'm saying. I bought the previous generous iMac with optical drive, and I'm quite happy about that. If you don't need one, cool. But, I would venture to guess I'm not the only person who will be unhappy to see this gone.

So what happens when you get (buy, given, etc.) a CD with music on it? Or want to give Grandma a DVD of the grandson's first step on video?

I agree, I use my optical drive infrequently, but it's hardly a superfluous appendage. It's not quite a the floppy drive...yet.

I grow weary of this debate, but let me hopefully put and end to it here.

Apple has and always will be on the cutting edge of technology. The created and killed their own connector (firewire) with thunderbolt. They were the first to completely remove the floppy disk. Part of moving forward is not just adding the new, but subtracting the old. In this case, an optical drive.

1- The OD in the previous gen iMac was an outdated drive that was vertical, frequently had issues and was slower than most. You'll notice on the MacBook Pro for example, that computers are continuing to get rid of moving parts which are clunkier, slower, heavier, larger, and more prone to failure. This includes the OD.

2- In a few years from now (i.e. 1-3) CDs will be as obsolete as cassette tapes. They might not fully be there yet, but Apple, once again, likes to be on the cutting edge side of tech. If you want a great computer, at a great price that's not doing anything that innovative, buy a Dell.

3- Buy a USB optical drive. They're super cheap. You can store it in your desk and take it out ever blue moon.

Anyone who thinks edge thinness is no big deal ... is really misunderstanding technology and should have free speech privilege revoked.

Ooops - misread you and was gonna post something mean.... Edge thin/thickness is important in the sense that from most angles it LOOKS so impossibly thin and light. But my desk face the door to my office which means that I approach my mac from 'the back', so to speak. I wonder what the very bulbous looking back will look like in real life. Will I need to re-configure my office?

Really? For a DESKTOP computer that I just spent $1200+ for? So I bought this beautiful all-in-one computer only to have to make it ugly by buying an external burner? Look, I get it. Apple has decided that the optical drive is obsolete. I understand eliminating it on a laptop, but not on a desktop. I'm not a fan of losing the FW ports either. Yes, yes, I can buy an adapter, but again, why? Apple declaring something obsolete doesn't necessarily make it so.

That's all I'm saying. I bought the previous generous iMac with optical drive, and I'm quite happy about that. If you don't need one, cool. But, I would venture to guess I'm not the only person who will be unhappy to see this gone.

Probably not the only person, but for most of us a DVD drive is totally useless. Its so much easier to share video over the web and 4 gigs of optical storage is a joke by todays standards, not to mention the low durability of optical media in general.

I grow weary of this debate, but let me hopefully put and end to it here.

Apple has and always will be on the cutting edge of technology. The created and killed their own connector (firewire) with thunderbolt. They were the first to completely remove the floppy disk. Part of moving forward is not just adding the new, but subtracting the old. In this case, an optical drive.

1- The OD in the previous gen iMac was an outdated drive that was vertical, frequently had issues and was slower than most. You'll notice on the MacBook Pro for example, that computers are continuing to get rid of moving parts which are clunkier, slower, heavier, larger, and more prone to failure. This includes the OD.

2- In a few years from now (i.e. 1-3) CDs will be as obsolete as cassette tapes. They might not fully be there yet, but Apple, once again, likes to be on the cutting edge side of tech. If you want a great computer, at a great price that's not doing anything that innovative, buy a Dell.

3- Buy a USB optical drive. They're super cheap. You can store it in your desk and take it out ever blue moon.

But where can I get a SCSI to Thunderbolt adapter?

From Apple ][ - to new Mac Pro I've owned them all.Long on AAPL so biased"Google doesn't sell you anything, Google just sells you!"

So what happens when you get (buy, given, etc.) a CD with music on it? Or want to give Grandma a DVD of the grandson's first step on video?

I agree, I use my optical drive infrequently, but it's hardly a superfluous appendage. It's not quite a the floppy drive...yet.

What happens when ... ?

Same thing that happens when someone shows up with an audio or vhs cassette. First we mock and laugh uncontrollably. Then we hold a mini intervention.

Not only is it analogous to the floppy removal, optical media is actually less common today than floppies were back when the imac first came out. For example, students today almost never use optical disks. Back when the imac was released, many students still used floppies. It was truly the only option if you didn't have a computer and were doing assignment on lab computers. Same thing with turning in assignments. Kids these days, they don't even want to touch a CD. Most wouldn't even care if their car didn't have a CD player. But tell them that they can't plug in the ipod or smart phone... now that is a tragedy.

Edit:

And as for grandma. She's already on facebook if she cares about seeing photos of the grandkids.

See, Apple does listen sometimes. I guess buying Anobit was a MAJOR part in it. I guess the other companies are gonna have tough time figuring that one out without Anobit controller chips. Maybe they have a TON of patents protecting them from being copied by the PC mfg.

I am wondering what everyone is gonna do if they get the iMac screen and make TVs. I think they might have cracked the TV screen problem at the same time. Maybe CES won't be the same........